LSE and GCSE profile

[deathbollywood]

Do you realistically need all 9s to get an offer? DS predicted 3 A stars, got majority 9s at GCSE but worried the 6 in graphics will count against him given how crazy competitive it is. Applying for econ and geography and seems to have written a good PS (according to teachers)

Of course not all LSE students have all 9s. And some have 6s.
And I'm purely guessing some with all 9s did not get in. On Studentroom you will read how many A* students got rejected without clear information why 🙂.
If really keen on LSE I would suggest go for it .

DD had a slightly mixed gcse profile, mostly 9s but a 7 in there too, she didn’t sit them (2020) but got a standard offer and is now very happy there. They do seem to offer quite late so hold your nerve!

Is your DS applying for BSc Geography (75%) with Economics (25%) as there is not a Economics (50%) and Geography (50%) course? He will be part of the Geography department rather than Economics.

As long as your DS meets the minimum grade requirement for the course which in this case is:
BSc Geography with Economics
Majority of GCSEs at 7/8/9 and at least a 6 in English and Maths
AAA at A level including an A in A level maths
at least one social science A level taken
He will go forward to the next step in the admissions process,

My DD is a final year BA Geography student at the LSE and applied with AAA (the minimum requirement) and was offered a place. Once you meet the minimum requirement it is all down to your personal statement.

Be aware if your son got A star, A star, B in his A levels, LSE would probably not take him. This happened to one of DD's friends.

Is your DS applying for Geography with Economics at all his other 4 choices? He must make sure his PS reflects both subjects so it is not too Economics focused as the majority of his course will be Geography based. However, as DD has found, most of the Geography modules include an economic dimension.

Have your child email admissions directly.

Thank you, all very useful. Looking at Student room and all the rejections for A star students was making me panic!

Dd at LSE..would also say go for it. The personal statement I think is given a lot of weight as there are not interview -

Any tips on personal statement fir LSE given so much weight placed on it? I know there's sone admissions tutors on here- what do you look for pls?

Not an admissions officer

Read the LSE website thoroughly. There is guidance on what they are looking for. Also read the course spec. Then make sure you address each and every point, and evidence it. Assume that at some point it will be scored.

I would suggest a general paragraph about why geography, then two paragraphs on specifics relating it to the LSE course (and other courses he is applying for). Note the LSE course is more urban and less geology than many.

Perhaps then a para on extra/super curricula especially if they can be related to geography, but also to highlight aspects like teamwork and resilience that suggest that you will be a successful student.

thank you v much

LSE provide detailed guidance of what they look for in a personal statement: www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/Undergraduate/Prospective-Students/How-to-Apply/Completing-the-UCAS-form/Personal-Statement

If you are applying for a very over-subscribed course, I would caution against taking a very mechanistic approach to writing the personal statement. It leads you to writing a personal statement that is much like a lot of other applicant's personal statements and the hard reality is this: If your personal statement is like most other people's personal statement, you are likely to be rejected, because most people are.

A small tip. LSE has a great series of public lectures, often available on line. He might look at current and future lectures and if he finds any particularly interesting it might be a good way of him showing why he is keen to study a particular area. (A very very small sample but DS got a last minute place despite rejections from Cambridge, Warwick and UCL. He was probably the ultimate in marginal applicants. The fact he and his friends were regular, and registered, attendees of LSE public lectures may have given that extra bit of evidence of his interest in studying there that tipped him over the line. Even if it had not, he enjoyed the lectures.)

You may be relieved to hear that geography is not as competitive as economics, law, IR, finance or accountancy. One of DS' peers missed a grade and was still accepted, perhaps because LSE never enters clearing. There is also a good sized contingent from inner city state schools. On GCSE grades I suspect it may depend on the type of school you were at. There were plenty of students from very ordinary inner city (mainly London) schools where all 8/9s may have been a rarity.

Good luck.

Thanks Needsmore, I did point him in the direction of those lectures a while back. Not sure if he took note! currently trying to manage expectations but actually just stressing him out.

Also not admissions, but I'd agree with what's said above. Cover the points, but they rely heavily on the PS to learn something about the candidate, since there's no interview on UG courses. I'd second attending the lecture series also. LSE is an interesting place for Geog due to the interdepartmental structure of teaching, and the Grantham Institute also do really interesting research which filters through to a departmental level.